As part of the recent Google Maps redesign, the ability to export your map to KML was mistakenly removed. According to a post in the Google Maps support forum, the feature will be added back in to Google Maps as soon as possible. In the meantime, here’s a workaround for you:
1 — Set the map the way you’d like it.
2 — Click the “link” icon in the top right corner.
3 — Copy the link below the “Paste link in email or IM”.
4 — Paste the address into your address bar and then add &output=kml to the end of it.
The image below helps explain how steps #2 and #3 work:
No timeframe was given for the return of the KML link, but I expect they’ll fix it fairly soon. Let us know if you have any trouble getting this workaround to work for you.
About Mickey Mellen
Mickey has been using Google Earth since it was released in 2005, and has created a variety of geo-related sites including Google Earth Hacks. He runs a web design firm in Marietta, GA, where he lives with his wife and two kids.
Thanks for the post. Unfortunately, I am not seeing the “link” button. Since the change, I only get the “Email” and “Print” icons. Any suggestions? I appreciate the help
It will only export to the first waypoint. So if I have a route with multiple towns, the exported kml stops at the first town.
Using Firefox 5.0 on Windows 7.
unable to export KML, ironically i have been using it for the last 3 weeks or so, and now both links (google earth and KML) takes you to google earth.
Works fine. Google could do this link to simplify the life of it’s users.
Unfortunately Google seems to have removed support for the workaround, and I still don’t see a KML link.
when is the last time this worked? tried it today and no downloadable file was produced